Mr Samuels had two daughters, Joni and Tanice, and was grandfather to a little girl and boy.

He also ran a bar in Jamaica - The Irish Rover - until 2011.

Mr Samuels, his wife and their family had been frequent visitors to Jamaica over the years.

He was murdered in his birthplace of Linstead, which is situated centrally on the West Indies island.

The Jamaican Observer newspaper reported the murder on Tuesday, November 12.

The online report said: "The St Ann (Andrew) police are now investigating the killing of a senior citizen who was reportedly shot dead by unknown assailants in St Ann, Monday morning.

"Seventy-nine-year-old Winston Oliver Samuels of Earl Avenue in Linstead, St Catherine, was found with gunshot wounds to the head on the Chalky Hill main road.

"Reports from the Corporate Communications Unit are that residents in the Chalky Hill area heard explosions and summoned the police."

Upon their arrival, police found Mr Samuels inside his vehicle with fatal wounds.

Newry-based charity the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust is helping Mr Samuels' family arrange to bring his remains back to Northern Ireland.

The murder brought swift condemnation from fellow Jamaicans online.

One posted: "Father God, how much more? When will our leaders see that we need a state of emergency?"

Another asked: "When will Jamaican people come out and put a stop to these killings?" Mike Jones wrote: "After living for 71 years, it is very sad to die so violently from the gun."

Sarah added: "He did leave but then came back to his home land to enjoy his retirement years. One thing can be guaranteed, the investigation will go nowhere and this crime will never be solved. Welcome to Jamaica."